Yesterday, April 15th, was Tax Day here in the U.S., which means lots of lucky people will get refunds of over-paid taxes. Whether you’re one of them or not, what would you spend an unexpected windfall on? Say … $50? How about $500?
(And, this is a reading meme, so by rights the answer should be book-related, but hey, feel free to go wild and splurge on anything you like.)
I did get a refund this year, which was spent in its near entirety on my final tuition instalment for the year (and, um, ever, for that matter). Kind of a boring answer, but a true one — and I’m doing an English degree so I suppose it’s vaguely book related.
Now, speaking of an imaginary windfall I had to spend on book-related things: that would change everything! If it was a very large windfall, I’d build/buy me a house with a library in it, one just like the Hart House Library (click for photo, here too). It’d be all wood shelves and airy glass and couches and fireplaces. And books, of course, and maybe some handy things like paintings and globes and things — actually, I’ve written about this before.
So, first choice: library. If it were a smaller (but still substantial) windfall I would go on a mad shopping spree and top up my collections. I’d get the rest of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin novels, and everything by Margaret Atwood and Robertson Davies and Shakespeare that I don’t already own. I’d buy books I’ve always wanted to read, and forget about the cost. And I’d also buy journals and writing paper, because I just plain love stationery.
A smaller windfall would just get put into my budget as book-buying money, and I’d spend it normally.
The one last thing is to donate it — well, not all of it, probably, but some. I know I’ve been greatly privileged with my education, and it’s good to pass that on to others!
Ohhhh — a library — what a lovely idea!
jess’s latest blog post:Booking Through Thursday — 4/16
An all-out library in my home is a fantasy of mine, too. Our “dining room” is a library in the sense it’s where most of the books are located, but we don’t sit in there and read because the table is always covered with stuff and the litter pan’s there. Yuck! With that left over money, I’d have to install a kitty door and put an end to the stinky litter.
The Kool-Aid Mom’s latest blog post:BTT ~ Grab Me a Bit of the Lone Star
Jess — I’d love to have a real library in my home! Right now most of my books live in my bedroom, and the rest are divided between my parents’ room, the hall, and the basement stairwell. Our house isn’t near big enough to have a dedicated library room, but I think I’d like that someday.
Kool-Aid Mom — I don’t do most of my reading where my books are, either. I’m more likely to read in the living room, and there are a few random piles of books there, but it’s not a dedicated book space. It has the couches, though!
I too want all of Atwood’s books!
let the windfall fall on my head
gautami tripathy’s latest blog post:Faith and Honour by Robin Maderich
My dream house would include a library too! Then my books wouldn’t be scattered all over.
Melissa – Shhh I’m Reading’s latest blog post:Booking Through Thursday…Windfall
That is a photo that dreams are made of for certain. I have a similar dream photo of a huge comfy bed where the headboard is actually the entire wall behind the bed full of shelves and books. What a great question today! A chance to dream.
Frances — I have spent many hours in that library, and it is (largely*) delightful. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to devise a way to take it home with me!
*Actually, it tends to overheat in summer, and it is sometimes hard to find places to sit because the couches are taken up by snoring, sleeping students… and others. But on the whole, it is lovely.
I’d save mine for my future home…with a big library in it
blodeuedd’s latest blog post:Mucho Caliente! by Francesca Prescott
Your library sounds wonderful — right down to the paintings and globes.
I’m not sure what I’d do with a windfall… Put it someplace interest-bearing and consider my options indefinitely, probably.
Janet’s latest blog post:War and Peace (and sleep)